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reported above to give assistance & support: it would not do to ignore appeals for help: nor to take no notice of outrages when they have been reported: the result might be a large increase of them reflecting possibly later on on the safety of the troops.
In my opinion therefore the method to adopt is to investigate: to show a power of force to these people but not to press too closely home the conviction of offenders in these private quarrels, otherwise I think that grave dangers & difficulties will be involved.
Supposing for example I could have laid my hand on these murderers or could have instructed the Police in British territory to do so would it have been desirable? Under what law would your Excellency propose to deal with them?
I am responsible for Military law & I can only say that I should decline to deal with them under that law.
If your Excellency feels justified in dealing with them by Civil British Law then I can only say that I misunderstand the situation & that the sooner a Civil administrator be sent & the responsibility be taken off my shoulders, the better.
(sgd) W. J. Gascoigne.
Maj-Gen.
800.
Camp Sheung Po.
14/8/99.
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